Feds sue Florida over voter purge

6/12/12 4:11 PM EDT

The Justice Department, as promised, filed suit Tuesday against the State of Florida over its plan to purge voter rolls.

The lawsuit says Florida's proposed purge violates federal law blocking such moves within 3 months of an election, like the primary coming up on August 14. The complaint also calls Florida's procedures for determining who should and shouldn't be removed from the rolls "inaccurate and unreliable."

“The Department of Justice has an overriding interest in protecting the rights of eligible citizens to register and vote free from unlawful burdens, while at the same time ensuring that ineligible persons do not register and vote in federal elections in violation of the law,” Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Tom Perez said in a statement issued shortly after the filing was reported on this blog. “The department is committed to enforcing the National Voter Registration Act so that these objectives are met.”

The suit filed in U.S. District Court for Tallahassee names the state and Secretary of State Ken Detzner as defendants. A copy of the complaint is posted here.